Fishing for Easy Money; Elder Abuse Resources
When was the last time you sent a check in the mail? With so many online options to send money, probably not as much as you used to. However, there are still a lot of people dropping checks in the mail to pay bills or to send money to family and friends. In fact, according to the United States Postal Service, over 142 billion pieces of mail went out in 2019.
If you’ve been reading our blogs, opening our emails, or watching our videos recently, you may have noticed us promoting sending money to family and friends with Zelle® and paying bills using Online Bill Payment, both of which can be done via the US Community Credit Union app. Not only are they convenient, but they also have an added layer of security that a lot of people don’t think about, protection from low tech crime.
What is “Mailbox Fishing”?
It’s called “mailbox fishing” and it’s the process thieves are using to steal checks without you knowing. The first step involves using adhesive attached to a pole. The pole is used to “fish” out envelopes from the blue USPS dropoff mailboxes. Once a thief has your check, the second step of the process involves the thief “washing” the check with chemicals to remove the ink. When this process is complete, the thieves now have a blank check to use however they want. Mailboxes have been targetted across the country.
Elder Abuse Awareness
June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and the perfect time to talk to your parents or grandparents about the financial exploitation of seniors that continues to rise daily. An estimated $2.6 billion is lost annually by older Americans via different types of financial exploitation and elder abuse.
How USCCU is Helping
We here at US Community Credit Union take Elder Abuse very seriously. We have made it a priority! Each staff member receives ongoing training on ways to spot the financial exploitation of our elder members. From reviewing checks to notice the possibility of tampering to understanding the ongoing scams targeting them.
While adapting to new technology isn’t always easy, sometimes the benefits can be enough to learn. If there is anyway USCCU can help you, please let us know. You can always call us at 615-256-8712 or send us a message HERE.
Additional Resources:
Money Smart for Older Adults Resource Guide
Portions of this blog were curated from a blog written by Shari Pogach of NAFCU. You can read that blog HERE.